"As a Christian trying to find my way in my life, this book is giving me great guidance. I am not alone. I have purpose and value. I love Henriet's direct and honest approach. Real. Solid. Authentic." Susan N.

02/09/2013

One of those people is my friend Teresa Gillespie. Professor Gillespie is the Dean of the School of Business and Management at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington. She also is Associate Professor, Business at Northwest.

"What an inspiring read! The Story Lives is a great reminder that our stories—our lives—matter because we are part of God's story. No matter where we are in our journey—seekers, young believers, experienced leaders—this book has practical and scriptural guidance for how to live our lives with significance and meaning."

01/29/2013

Friends are wonderful! And I have some wonderful friends. Several who have read my book, The Story Lives: Leading a Missional Revolution, have posted reviews on Amazon. I plan to regularly share one of these reviews. Today, I'm featuring Dr. Ray Vath. He's a retired psychiatrist, missional Christian, leader, author, and member of a Washington Cathedral TLC group. He recently read my book and posted this on Amazon:

"Henriet has shown us easy ways to reach out to one's community and by example teach people to love ones neighbor as they love themselves. With the world in conflict, the need to teach how to care for each other is of utmost importance. It is the answer to the violence that seems to be growing in the world. Her book will help one find creative ways to get involved with community."

10/20/2012

Would $5 help?

Kathy felt thrilled to be part of a women's missional community. Jesus showed her that she was chosen, just like one of the disciples. Her calling was to spread the Good News. She felt excited and a bit scared. Could she make a real difference? Her community called it living missionally. She wondered, what does that look like for me? The group had discussed the work of the Holy Spirit and how he directs us as we seek to live our stories to demonstrate Jesus to the community. Kathy wanted to hear from him and discover how to live her story.

One day she made a trip to the bank in a local grocery store to deposit some checks. As she walked away from the counter she "heard" a voice say, "would five dollars help?" Kathy looked around to see who was talking but saw no one. She continued on her way out of the store. As she stepped outside she heard someone ask her the same question again, "would five dollars help?" She again looked around but saw no one. Confused she continued to her car.

She heard the words again, "would five dollars help?" As she reached her car she notice a young man in his early 20s pacing in front of the grocery store near her parking spot. It made her nervous so she quickly got in her car. She noticed he was clutching a two liter soda bottle filled with water. He seemed uncomfortable as he paced. As she closed her car door, feeling safe in the enclosed space, she again her the words, "would five dollars help?"

Now she knew that it was the Holy Spirit speaking to her but what did he mean? She noticed the young man again. He was the only other person around and he made her feel a bit scared. She looked in her purse unsure she even had five dollars since she normally didn't carry any cash. Surprisingly she had exactly five dollars!

The voice of the Holy Spirit

She decided to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and not give in to fear. After starting her car, she approached the young man and rolled down her car window. Apprenhensively she said, "Would five dollars help?" The young man's face lit up. He put his hand over his heart and said, "May God bless you. Yes it would. I am so hungry. I will get some food."

Kathy gave him the five dollars and drove away delighted. The Holy Spirit had spoken to her and used her. The young man was able to get some food but she had experienced God in action. She told the Holy Spirit she wanted to hear from him at least once a week. The next Wednesday she told her group the story and they celebrated with her. She continues to tell her story and listen for the voice of the Spirit.

10/05/2012

It's easy to live missionally

Just the other day I sat in the orthodontis chair, a few weeks earlier than my normal appointment because a wire broke. I was explaining the symptoms of how I discovered the broken wire...it was hidden and not at all obvious. After my imaginative explanation, my orthodontis said laughing, "You should be a writer."

Hmmm, well, now that you mention it. His comment provided a perfect opening and I jumped in with both feet! "Funny you should say that. I just published my first book."]

He beamed and stopped adjusting my braces. "See I was right, you are a writer. What is your book about?" Another great opening!

"It's about the need for Christians to really behave like Christians in the community," I said kindly and daring to be bold without being offensive.

He nodded enthusiastically. "That's great. You know, the culture really has been changing. When we moved here in the 60s people were really nice. They were loving and forgiving," he continued. My orthodonstist immigrated from Iran and does not consider himself a Christian but he is friendly toward Christianity. He told me that he grew up respecting Jesus because his mother valued Jesus and spoke about him. He clarified that she was not a Christian but really respected Jesus. He also explained he and his family had checked out Christianity and various churches because people around him were so warm and inviting. In other words, they behaved winsomely, living as Christians in the community.

Now it was my turn to nod in agreement which was all I could do since he was still putting the powerchain on my top braces.

People notice when we misbehave

Before getting my final instructions, he commented, "Now my colleagues who say they are Christians keep to themselves. It's like if you're not part of them they don't want to spend time with you." He clearly missed the warm and inviting aspects of faith he had experienced in the past. My orthodontist finished the conversation by saying, “Christians should act warmly so people would want to know more.”

He gets it. We need to get it too!

When I left, I grabbed one of the new books out of my trunk. I signed it for him and went back into the office. He was happy to get the book and said, "I'll read it at night." Great! He'll be seeing me next month. I wonder what he'll have to say. :)

How about you?

What's your story with living missionally? Please send it to me at henriet@thestorylives.com. I'm collecting stories to share on the blog so that we can encourage each other to live missionally!